Internal Affairs committee to meet over Akko riots
Knesset committee to hold urgent session on Yom Kippur riots in northern Israeli city as police, local officials will brief ministers on weekend's ongoings. Internal security minister visits city, encounters angry crowd demanding his resignation
The Knesset's Internal Affairs Committee will hold an urgent meeting Sunday, to discuss the Jewish-Arab riots that took place during Yom Kippur in Akko.
Public figure, city and police officials are expected to participate in the meeting and brief the committee members of their findings.
Hundreds of Jewish and Arab demonstrators clashed in Akko's streets on Thursday, after an Arab motorist entered a predominantly Jewish area on the holiest of Jewish days.
Eight people were injured in the riot, as massive police forces were pumped into the city in order to keep the peace.
MK Ophir Pines-Paz, the committee chairman, said Friday that "it's important to restore the peace in Akko, and we must punish those who behaved violently."
Also on Friday, protesters in Akko called on Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter's to resign.
Dichter, who visited the cleft city, had a morning meeting with Akko Mayor Shimon Lankry and several City Councilmen. The meeting was met by a crowd protesting the riots outside City Hall.
"You have security, but we don't. Go home!" protesters chanted outside the building.
Dichter assured Lankry the instigators would be found and brought to justice.
Several Knesset members from right wing parties also toured the riot area in the northern Israeli city.
The MKs, including delegates from National Union-National Religious Party and Yisrael Beiteinu, were accompanied by a heavy police escort and were briefed on the riots and the subsequent police deployment in the city.
Amnon Meranda contributed to this report
